Thursday, December 27, 2007

March 27, 2008 will be my last day to work. I am getting pumped as the end of work days draws near. Everyone tells me that I need to stay busy, what a joke, busy is my middle name.

I have started a plan to simplify my life when it comes time to move. Having watched my pack rat Mom and Dad collect all manner of "stuff" over the 50 some years I knew them the realization hit home that too much is just that, "Too much!", I have decided to lose some things. Yesterday was the first day of the rest of my life. The day was spent clearing my youngest son's former bedroom and starting the sorting process. Does everyone keep years of old magazines that they never look at again? I don't anymore. How about power adapters for electronics? I swear I am going to label everyone of them buggers from now on. So far I have boxes full of them and no Idea what they go to.

The plan includes several different destinations for the current collection.

Out to the trash.

Going with me.

Going for sale on E-Bay.

Going back to rightful owner.

Yard sale! Maybe the mother of all yard sales!

For sale with a sign in front of the house.

For sale with a sign in front of the flat farm.

Given away!

Three houses, five barns, two garages, and three sheds are all getting the same treatment. Stripped to the walls and all content evaluated for one of the aforementioned destinations. There is also a basement or two that get the same going over, also equipment out doors. When we finally move into the new house at the hill farm we will be much lighter.

First off let me thank everyone that takes time to read my blog! Heres hoping that you folks had an enjoyable time this December with good food, good friends, and fellowship. Our house was filled with the joy of the season.

Now the rest of the story!The Friday following the invasion of my flat farm, my oldest son and I loaded my truck with our gear for a relaxing three days hunting at the hill farm. We pulled out at about 9:30pm and arrived an hour later. The first clue that something was amiss were the fresh vehicle tracks in the new snow. As I rounded the turn in the driveway I see lights on in the cabin and two vehicles parked in the driveway. What the fuck? Silly me there is only one key to the place and that one is in my pocket, so I think.

Well I take back almost all the nice things I said about my BIL David. He is in the cabin with his son Matt and two guys I do not know. I am off the hook angry. When I asked him how he got in he informed me that he had a key made for himself when I let him use the place last summer. Stupid or balls the size of an elephant? Dave had asked me several questions over the phone a few days earlier as to what days I had to work, when I would be hunting again and such. I did not tell him very much as I felt it was none of his business and I was not being too open to any in-laws after the deal at my flat farm.

There they are sitting at my table, eating my food from my fridge and I look over to the wood stove and I see dents in my new floor where they used the maul to split kindling wood. This is the spot where I lost it. Dave's keys sat on my nice antique oak kitchen table. I smashed the ring with the splitter maul and retrieved the key he had made. Thank God I hit the table against the grain and only left a wound and did not split the thing in half. The four of them loaded their stuff in record time and left.

My nephew was the only one man enough to call me the next day. He told me his father had lied to the two friends he brought up there that he was half owner in the place and after telling the lie did not know how to get out of it. I do not think he has that problem anymore.

I HAVE RESOLVED THE PROBLEM!

Staying angry is consuming and not good for you. Christmas Eve we go to my dear old Mother-in-laws every year and I used this opportunity to get clear. I used her phone to call two of my brother in laws as they would not answer when I called from my phone. It seemed they were not coming over until I left. I told them all the same thing, "Get Over Here NOW." When the group was assembled I informed that I would talk and they would listen. First I revoked any right any of them had to be on any of my property for any reason at any time. I got clear with how much it hurt to even have to say theses things to people I had trusted. No one has told me they are sorry so I assume that they are not

Where it stands now.

I am no longer the free lunch. Only my sons, my friend Jack, my ex brother in-law Tom( x of my wife's sister), and myself will be hunting my properties. Unless some amends are made the rest of them can pound salt. But at least the anger is gone. Long time stewing is baggage I will not carry. You really can not fix stupid.

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About Me

Ready to get out of the race! Working at setting up our homestead in the hills. I bought a valley with a stream, a north facing slope and a south facing slope. We are going to live in what will become the guest house and build the house of our dreams into a south facing hillside overlooking our stream! Grew up with parents that marched to thier own drum and it has rubbed off. Married to my bride for 37 years and have teenage grandkids.I have always had two or three jobs at a time, that won't change other then I am retiring from my state job after 25 years. Plan to continue farming the flat farm even after my son buys it and will put 40 acres back into production at the new homestead. Our site lends itself to hydro-electric and I see this as an opportunity to make my carbon footprint somewhat smaller. Lots of research has gone into passive solar, underground living, and renewable energy in general.We have grown a large percentage of our own food for several years as I believe the commercial food industry is poison. I hunt, forage, hate lawns, and I am not that fond of close neighbors. Cured that by buying the whole road.